Conquer Path of Exile 2 as a Mercenary: A Beginner's Guide
Tired of fantasy tropes in Path of Exile 2? Embrace the Mercenary class and transform the game into a top-down shooter experience! Ditch the swords and bows; your trusty crossbow is your new best friend. This guide will help you build a powerful Mercenary, perfect for obliterating hordes of enemies. All information pertains to game version 0.1.0f; future updates may necessitate adjustments.
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Key Mercenary Attributes:
Prioritize Dexterity for increased damage and evasion. Evasion is superior to armor in this build. Movement speed is crucial for dodging attacks. Allocate Strength and Intelligence as needed for equipment and skill requirements.
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Early Game Skills:
- Fragmentation Rounds: A decent starting skill, but quickly outclassed. Consider Brutality and Leverage support gems.
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- Permafrost Bolts: A strong early-game choice. Freeze and immobilize enemies with Frost Nexus and Leverage support gems. Double Barrel adds more bolts but increases reload time.
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Image: ensigame.com
- Explosive Grenade: Excellent for crowd control. Use Scattershot for three grenades and Second Wind for survivability. Master grenade trajectory for maximum effectiveness.
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- Gas Grenade: Releases poison gas, synergizes well with Corrosion (reduces armor) and Bursting Plague (increased damage). Detonate the gas with fire skills for devastating results.
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- Galvanic Shards (Act 2): Transforms your crossbow into an automatic lightning shotgun. Use Conduction and Lightning Infusion support gems for optimal damage.
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- Herald of Thunder: A powerful buff that synergizes with Galvanic Shards and Conduction. Requires 30 spirit units.
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- Explosive Shot: Combines well with grenades; fire damage increases with Fire Infusion. Offers ranged crowd control and an alternative to Galvanic Shards.
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Image: ensigame.com
Passive Skill Tree Recommendations:
Focus on nodes increasing projectile damage:
- Remorseless: Increased projectile damage, stun buildup, and attribute boosts.
- Ricochet: Increased projectile damage and chaining.
- Blur: Increased movement speed and evasion.
- Heavy Ammunition: Increased projectile damage and stun, reduced attack speed.
- Careful Aim: Increased projectile damage and accuracy.
- Cluster Bombs: Increased grenade fuse duration and additional projectiles.
- Adrenaline Rush: Increased movement and attack speed after kills.
- Doomsayer: Increased Herald skill area of effect and damage.
- Instant Reload: Significantly increased crossbow reload speed.
- Volatile Grenades: Reduced grenade fuse duration (use if not using Explosive Shot).
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Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Experiment and find your optimal build! The Mercenary's versatility allows for diverse playstyles.
